IN A DECISIVE move to address the plight of street-connected children and young persons, the Department of Social Welfare, under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), convened a pivotal stakeholder consultative meeting on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
The session aimed to galvanize support and refine the implementation of the Five-Year Strategic Plan (2024–2028), a comprehensive roadmap designed to safeguard the rights and welfare of vulnerable youth across Ghana.
Representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners gathered to review the strategic framework, which outlines ten key objectives.
These include nationwide data collection on street-connected children, reducing barriers to essential services, developing policies for children of foreign nationality, and enhancing stakeholder collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Acting Director Mr. Prince Boamah Abrah emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “This meeting serves as a movement to reclaim the future of thousands of children living and working on the streets,” he stated. To this, he called upon all stakeholders to contribute their expertise to ensure the plan’s successful execution.
The strategic plan builds upon previous efforts, such as “Operation Go Back to School” and “Operation Get Off the Streets for a Better Life,” which, despite identifying thousands of street-connected individuals, faced challenges in reintegration. The current plan seeks to address these shortcomings through a more holistic and coordinated approach.
The consultative meeting marks a significant step towards a unified national effort to provide street-connected children with the protection, education, and opportunities they deserve. With collaborative action, Ghana aims to transform the lives of its most vulnerable youth and ensure no child is left behind.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
